A feeling of heaviness, pressure or dragging in the vagina can be uncomfortable and sometimes worrying, particularly when you’re not sure why it’s happening or what you can do about it. You might notice:

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• A feeling of heaviness or pressure in the vagina

• A dragging or “falling down” sensation

• A feeling that something is sitting lower than usual

• A bulge or change around the vaginal opening

• Symptoms that become more noticeable after exercise or towards the end of the day

• Difficulty emptying your bladder or bowels

• Discomfort during sex

• A general feeling that something just doesn’t feel right

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These symptoms can happen for many different reasons, and a pelvic floor physiotherapist can help you understand what is contributing to your symptoms. Your pelvic floor doesn’t work in isolation. Our physiotherapists take a whole-body approach, looking beyond the area where you feel your symptoms to understand how your pelvic floor, abdominal wall, breathing, strength and movement are working together. Depending on your individual symptoms and goals, your assessment may include:

 

• Pelvic floor assessment to understand the strength, coordination and function of your pelvic floor muscles

• Assessment for pelvic organ prolapse where appropriate

• Transperineal real-time ultrasound to help assess and visualise pelvic floor function

• Abdominal wall and breathing assessment, in combination with a full body musculoskeletal assessment 

• Discussion about your exercise, lifestyle and individual goals

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What can treatment involve? There is no single treatment approach that is right for everyone. Your treatment plan will depend on your symptoms, assessment findings and what you want to get back to doing. This may include:

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• Pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation

• Improving the way your pelvic floor, abdominal muscles and breathing 

• Addressing areas of tension, weakness or overload throughout the body

• Advice around exercise and managing symptoms during physical activity

• Bladder and bowel strategies

• Guidance around everyday activities that may be contributing to your symptoms

• Pessary assessment and fitting where appropriate

• Referral or collaboration with other medical specialists when required

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You don’t have to wait until your symptoms become severe and you also don’t need to know whether you have a prolapse before seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist. If you’re experiencing vaginal heaviness, pressure, dragging, a bulging sensation or simply feeling that something isn’t quite right, an assessment can help you better understand what is happening and explore the management options that may be appropriate for you.

 

Our experienced pelvic health physiotherapists are here to provide a thorough assessment, answer your questions and develop an individual plan based on your body, your symptoms and your goals.